Political party to fight inequality emerges in London

Prem Goyal

Prem Goyal: Pledges half his savings to fight inequality at the top

A new political party aimed at "fighting for equality at the top" of the political echelon has been set up in the London Borough of Southwark. The aim is to spread its tentacles across London and beyond.

Founded by a group of community champions and led by local entrepreneur Prem Goyal OBE, the All People’s Party will "fight for equality at the top and give avenues and leadership opportunities now for all people, young and old, who put their community first and want change without having to go through the bureaucracy of a political party or waiting for a long time before you might be given a leadership opportunity."

Goyal said: “The process to be a candidate and represent your community for any of the main three political parties is fundamentally outdated, especially for talented minorities who have successfully migrated to England and deeply root themselves in their local community. First you have to pay your monthly membership fee. Then you have to campaign as a member for a number of years and master hundreds of arcane rules. And it is only after that you ‘might’ get an opportunity to represent your community at the lowest political level. This is not right. We are in 2013 not 1983.”

Goyal noted that many people across the borough, especially talented minorities, had shared with him their detachment and exploitation by political parties, especially Labour.

Goyal left The Labour Party a few months ago after all seven shortlisted candidates in Faraday ward were indigenous – Faraday has about 65% minority population – concluding that Labour promotes inequality in Southwark every day.

He said he was angry that "Labour still shamelessly begs for minority votes whilst continuously finding talented minorities incompetent for the top political positions in Southwark – there is only one minority out of the twelve top Labour leaders, in Council Cabinet, GLA and MP positions. But Labour is still proud of it – shame on them."

Over a dozen candidates have already joined the All People’s Party, many of whom were Labour Party activists but left the party after they alleged that Labour blatantly manipulated the selection process for the 2014 election.

One candidate, Donald Cole JP, a former Vice Chair of Peckham Labour Party and a Magistrate on the South London Bench shared why he had left Labour and joined the All People’s Party.

“I joined the Labour Party because of its core fundamental values of egalitarianism, social justice and equality of opportunity. As a member and Branch Officer of Camberwell and Peckham Labour Party, I have noticed that these values are non-existent. The days of ethnic minority people ticking the ballot papers for Labour are over. That is why I have joined this new political party, which puts our community first.”

Goyal has pledged to dedicate at least 50% of his savings to eradicate the inequality at the top in Southwark and beyond. He is willing to provide training and campaign resources to any committed candidate who puts their community first, will fight for equality at the top and create top leadership opportunities for all. No political experience is needed to become a Councillor candidate in 2014.

He said: “Young people and our community champions want opportunities now. We don’t want them to be exploited by political parties as foot soldiers for the rest of their lives. The All People’s Party will give opportunities to our talented community champions to represent Southwark and get rid of our out of touch, career politicians.

I encourage all community champions to check our website and apply for Councillor, MP and Ambassador positions.

Our vision is to have 50% talented minorities in the top political positions in Southwark Council by 2020 and a talented minority in the House of Commons for Southwark by 2015. Together we can make this change. That is my dream.”

Goyal is Patron of Peckham Pride, Executive Committee Member at Southwark’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a Trustee at Time and Talents and works with a lot of charities in Southwark. In January 2012, he was awarded an OBE for services to the economy and promoting charitable giving.

* More details about the All People’s Party can be found at www.allpeoplesparty.co.uk

Comments (10)

Not just Nigerian

The fact that Prem is courting the Nigerian vote through all of his Nigerian events is total HYPOCRISY. He talks about "not begging for minority votes" but that is EXACTLY what he is doing. He is not interested in any other minority groups. He's done exactly NOTHING for Bengalis like me. It's obvious that he doesn't really care. He's just in it to try and get himself into Parliament.

Samir Saeedmore than 5 years ago

Get involved

I beg to politely differ. Actually, I think there just happens to be a large Nigerian minority in the borough and many of them have suffered unfair treatment at local political level. This has been voiced by various different people in the local media,These are now coming together. If you feel you have something to contribute, get involved. Why should this be about doing something FOR someone? This is about people getting together to do something together. The guy is simply mobilising talent to create better opportunities for talent. He supports meritocracy. Some people won't like it as their cosy positions come under threat and they need to actually perform.

Ullallamore than 5 years ago

Re: Get involved

Ok - please show me some evidence of how Prem Goyal is involved in Bengali community. I have seen nothing. This shows that he does not really care about minorities. As you say, there is a large Nigerian minority group and he just wants to exploit it for his own ends.

Samir Saeedmore than 5 years ago

Prem who?

Who is this guy? I have literally no idea who he is and I've lived in Southwark my whole life (53 years)

Ali Hussainmore than 5 years ago

Divisive

It really saddens me to see Prem Goyal behave in this way. He has gone from being a fantastic community champion, investing a lot of his personal wealth into the Southwark community organisations. I then see that, when unsuccessful in his selections for the Labour Party, he retaliates by setting up a new party. Surely the current government's policies are far more abhorent than what the Labour party is doing? Prem should really think about where he directs his efforts and go and find another seat elsewhere where he can be back part of a party that has equality at its core. All of this is so divisive and very distressing to see - come on Prem Goyal, you're better than this.

Olumore than 5 years ago

Who else is in APP...

It's the indigenous Cllr Steven "I did 3 years in prison for shoot a man whilst I was high on class A drugs" Govier http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12544111

Anonmore than 5 years ago

Really?

This party has been set up as a reaction to Prem not getting selected in Southwark. He didn't get selected because he wasn't the best candidate - simple truth. Anyone at the hustings will know that - his speech was appaling - he assumed we all lived in overcrowded housing and we were all poor. No we are not all millionaires like Prem, but we do not all live in squalid conditions either, as his speech suggested. Shame on you Prem Goyal.

Sharon Jonesmore than 5 years ago

Statistical significance

A difference of a single vote in the final round between the chosen candidate and the runner up, Prem Goyal OBE, is not statistically significant in a sample of 207 voters. That much on your rather simplistic "truth". His lead over all other candidates in the first round is however statistically significant and testament to his popularity. The rest is in my opinion a procedural artefact. Most importantly, a rigorous election process, or shall we say procedural secretary, would under the circumstances have no doubt demanded a recount and perhaps a diligent reassessment of the invalid votes.

UKmore than 5 years ago

Single issue and devoid of policies?

Other than "equality at the top", does this party have any policies at all? I can't see anything on the website about whether it wants higher or lower council taxes, what it would do on housing, if it wants more or less free school meals for kids, etc. I'm a minority and I want to hear solutions, not just complaining.

Olumide Agyemangmore than 5 years ago

Lucky escape

There were two re-counts on the day.....lucky escape is what I say. All that the APP party is about is promotion of Prem Goyal - there are no policies, their indigenous v minority is someone flawed....not really sure what you do if you are ethnically BME but have lived in the borough all you life - indigenous?? Prem is playing a very unhelpful race game. He is not working with facts....

Sharon Jonesmore than 5 years ago

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